I just picked up a little beauty today. A Parlour guitar styled after the Martin Style #5 tuned up a minor third. Solid koa back and sides, Engleman spruce (from the Montana Bitterroot Valley) top, cocobolo fingerboard and bridge, bone saddle, end pins, and nut, Grover tuners, and rosewood binding. She was made by a luthier in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley – Bittersweet Guitars - and plays like a dream.
I have experimented in both the tuning up a third and down in standard and with some very heavy strumming in standard there is a bit of buzz but I discussed this with the luthier today and he thought perhaps some lights or mediums might take the buzz away – it is currently strung with extra lights.
Ken (the luthier) gave me a tour of his shop today and spent a couple of hours going over guitar building and just discussing guitars in general. He patiently answered all of my questions and then some. I am so jazzed with this little guitar, Ken really put a lot of work into this and it looks and plays beautiful.
I was so excited I wanted to post this, I’ll try and post some pics tomorrow.